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More families should start considering their financial situations before other more traditional criteria for making college choices, says high-school counselor and author Frank Palmasani. While social and academic preferences might typically vault one school over another for a student, Palmasani suggests it's worth it to consider the "financial fit method," including cost and potential financial aid, as part of the decision-making process.

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The majority of college students say their ultimate goal is to find fulfilling work after graduation regardless of the salary, according to a new report from Barnes & Noble College and Money magazine. Researchers say their data show that students who feel connected to faculty and other students also are more likely to stay in school and graduate.

Officials at the Washington, D.C.-based company vibeffect say they have developed an algorithm and scientific modeling technology to help students select the college or university where they will thrive. The company is currently piloting its methods, and CEO Elena Maria Cox says vibeffect is "looking to prove that there's a return on investment in this for the university."

California has the lowest tuition and fees for community college students in the country, according to the College Board, and system officials are now considering some form of free community college. Dan Troy, the community college system's vice chancellor for fiscal policy, said they must decide whether the surplus tax money will be used to waive fees or to create more course sections.

Educators in a number of states are using a text-messaging application to connect with students throughout the summer and to keep students on track between high-school graduation and the first day of college. "When students transition from high school to college they don't have anyone to reach out to in the summer. They are scrambling to build new support systems and want more," says Jessica A. Kennedy, assistant director of communications at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The text messages also remind students to apply, enroll and pay for college on time.

A pair of recent studies show that most high-school students are unprepared for college. The data, based on the results of the SAT and ACT college-entrance exams, show more than half of students who take the tests are at risk of not succeeding in college.